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VIDEO: Shaping Tomorrow’s Wind Energy Leaders

August 18, 2014 - 8:55am

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Go behind the scenes in the Energy Department's Collegiate Wind Competition to learn how students are gaining the skills necessary to advance the wind industry. | Video by Matty Greene, Energy Department.

Wind energy is a growing source of power for Americans across the country -- supplying nearly 4.5 percent of our total electricity use. Meeting the demand for this clean, renewable energy requires a skilled workforce of thought leaders and energy innovators to lead the way. That’s the impetus behind the Energy Department’s Collegiate Wind Competition -- a challenge that prepares the nation’s future scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to advance the wind industry.

A year-long program, the Collegiate Wind Competition challenges undergraduate student teams from across the country to design, build and test a prototype wind turbine. In the inaugural competition, students focused on creating a transportable wind turbine that can be used to power small electronic devices. Along the way, teams had to assess the market barriers facing the wind industry while developing a business plan for their lightweight, portable wind turbines and pitching it to a panel of industry experts.

As part of the competition, students gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge manufacturing techniques and learn to think outside of the box to push wind turbine technology forward. It also gives students access to clean energy leaders and inspires them to consider careers in the wind industry -- whether they’re engineering, business or communications students.

Watch our latest video for highlights from the Energy Department’s Collegiate Wind Competition, held in May in Las Vegas, and learn how it’s helping shape future clean energy leaders.